Black Ideas Grant awards $3 million to support Black-led organizations across Ontario

A national organization has announced the recipients of a $3 million investment into Black-serving organizations in Ontario, during a time when many organizations are struggling to make ends meet while providing for an already underserved community. 

Across North America, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programming in schools and workplaces is being rolled back, while simultaneously, marginalized groups are experiencing a clawback of equal rights, and funding for the organizations that serve these communities seems to be harder to come by. This describes the current time period, which many human rights activists refer to as “the death of DEI.” 

But a local organization is stepping up and showing up for Black organizations working to strengthen communities across Ontario. The Foundation for Black Communities (FFBC) is giving more than $3 million in funding to more than 50 Black-led organizations across the province through the latest round of its Black Ideas Grant (B.I.G.) program.

B.I.G. supports Black-led organizations developing community-driven solutions across various sectors including arts and culture, education, entrepreneurship, health, and community development. The foundation says the latest investment represents another step toward building long-term, sustainable funding for Black communities nationwide.

Founded as Canada’s first philanthropic foundation dedicated exclusively to investing in Black communities, FFBC works to direct sustained funding toward Black-led, Black-mandated and Black-serving (B3) organizations across the country.

The investment will support 55 B3 organizations and community groups across the province. It comes as part of a broader $8-million national disbursement that will see money go to 132 organizations Canadawide.

The B.I.G. is made possible through a mix of government and philanthropic funding. The program is supported in part by the Government of Canada’s Black-led Philanthropic Endowment Fund, a $200-million investment established to create a sustainable source of funding for Black-led, Black-mandated and Black-serving organizations across the country. FFBC also works with philanthropic partners to support the grant program, with the latest B.I.G. 3.0 round including $6.5 million in federal funding as part of its $8-million national investment.

The B.I.G. 3.0 cohort includes organizations like Afri-Can Alliance International, Foundations First Toronto, Delta Family Resource Centre, Ethnik Festivals Association, Afro Van Connect Society, Norm’s Artistic Learning Institute, Single Mothers Inspiring Leadership in Education, and Spice-Island Cultural Day Association of Quebec. You can find the full list of recipients and learn about the important work they do on the Foundation for Black Communities website.

A B.I.G. Day for Black-serving organizations in Ontario

The funding announcement was celebrated Wednesday at Toronto’s Nia Centre for the Arts, where elected officials, community leaders and grant recipients gathered to recognize organizations advancing solutions in Black communities.

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow delivered keynote remarks during the event alongside Member of Parliament for Davenport Julie Dzerowicz, Member of Provincial Parliament for York South-Weston Mohamed Firin, while Mississauga Centre MP Fares Al Soud was also in attendance.

Chow spoke on the importance of investing into Black-led organizations and entrepreneurs.

“The people closest to the challenges are often the people with the strongest idea, the deepest understanding, and the most innovative solutions,” she told audiences Wednesday. 

“When we invest in Black-led and Black-serving organizations, we are investing in leaders who have built trust, created opportunities, and strengthened communities every single day.

Foundation for Black Communities CEO Ikem Opara outlined the organization’s vision for advancing Black-led philanthropy in Canada, while Chief Impact Officer Nneka Otogbolu hosted the event.

Attendees also heard from B.I.G. recipients, including Malcolm Wright, chief partnership officer at Nobellum Enterprise, who shared how the funding has helped strengthen their organization and expand their impact.

Black business accelerator Nobellum Enterprise was a member of the 2025 B.I.G. cohort. Wright shared that the award allowed the organization to expand its programming.

“It also freed up a lot of time to do a lot of other core operations because sustainability is super important within the business,” Wright shared. 

The organization had a goal of supporting the creation of 100 Black businesses, something Wright says B.I.G. helped them surpass.

“[We’ve supported] 121 businesses to date,” he explained. “I’m just a kid from Scarborough. I never thought this would be something that’s possible… Black entrepreneurship deserves more visibility. Black entrepreneurship deserves more recognition, and Black entrepreneurship deserves positive representation.”

“When we have that mentality and make sure that we’re working together — collaboration over competition — everything is possible.”

Meanwhile, Nia Centre for the Arts Executive Director Alicia Hall reflected on the role of arts and culture in community building, sharing that for the longest time, despite its large Black population, Toronto did not have a centre dedicated to Black arts and culture. But with the support of FFBC, the centre was able to open its doors in 2023.

“I think it’s incredible that we do have a Black philanthropic organization that is not invested in the short term, is not invested in one province, but is really thinking about the experiences of Black Canadians from coast to coast,” Hall said of FFBC on Wednesday.

“These investments are investments in people, right? All of you are here today because you’re leading organizations, you’re working on initiatives that are transforming our communities,” the ED continued, adding that the investments made by the FFBC allow for B3 organizations to continue to do the work that is needed in BIPOC communities.

“The kind of work is what makes a difference, ultimately, right?” she continued. “That’s why we’re all here.” 

In her remarks, Chow echoed this same sentiment. 

“These investments turn ideas into action, supporting young people [and] creating economic opportunities.” 

Find out more about the B.I.G. on the Foundation for Black Communities website.